Just like their athletic counterparts at Apalachee High School, the 2011-2012 Cheer Cats have been busy this summer.
Recently the team attended a camp at the University of Alabama, allowing the athletes to receive college-level instruction which coach Haley McDonald believes will prove beneficial in coming weeks.
“Camp was wonderful,” McDonald said. “All of our kids had a wonderful time and we are thrilled with the results. Last year, we did not do any sort of summer camp with the kids because there were many transitions taking place, but we knew early on that this summer we wanted our squads to attend camp in the summer. This was the very first year that our basketball cheerleaders attended any sort of cheerleading camp and it truly was a great experience for them as well as all of our other teams.”
Receiving top-level teaching was also a major benefit for members of the AHS cheerleading program.
“The instruction was great and the college atmosphere was incredible because it presented the students with information and experiences such as dorm life and dining halls which were all great,” McDonald said. “ Being on a college campus gave our students something to look forward to and to work towards.”
In the awards department, each night all four squads received superior evaluations for their performances in cheer and dance.
The final day was a competition exhibition which was open for the parents to come and watch.
“We had a great Chee cheering section and came away with several team awards for performances,” McDonald said. “The best and most desirable award given at camp was the Leadership Award. This award is voted on by every other squad that attended camp and went to the one squad that showed the greatest leadership and character throughout the week. We are so proud to say that our program won this award, meaning our kids showed tremendous leadership on and off the floor all week long.”
The camp allowed the Cheer Cats to begin work on their upcoming seasons and to grow closer as a program.
“What more could a coach ask for?” McDonald said. “We are thrilled to begin the year with team unity and pride, which we know will bring forth great success this season.”
